Is this a badger hole?

[Bango skank]

Cant imagine what else it could possibly be based off the size.  And i believe they eat whistle pigs, right?  Plenty of those squeakers around here.  And i did get a badger on cam not too far from here, less than 1/2 mile, so theyre in the area for certain, despite being pretty rare in these parts.  So if this is in fact a badger hole, couple questions.  Are they active in november / december?  Would i stand a chance in hell of getting one with a cage trap set nearby?  I really dont know a damn thing about badgers, and this is my first year with a trapping license, so sorry if these are stupid questions.  I just know ive wanted one ever since seeing a big ol *censored* stinkeye me from his den down by dayton when i was hunting deer down there about 27 years ago.

[Jonathan_S]

I cage trapped a couple with a skunky call lure and some nice as bait.

They are hard on traps. Worse than anything.

[Bango skank]

I cage trapped a couple with a skunky call lure and some nice as bait.

They are hard on traps. Worse than anything.

So they must be active during trapping season.  So if some snow hits and i find tracks around one of these holes, think i should put a trap right by the hole?  Would it need to be kind of brushed in like a bobcat set?  The traps i bought off a member here seem real heavy duty, i think they can take a beating.  And honestly, as long as the trap holds it, if it gets wrecked im okay with that.  Id consider the destruction of a 50 dollar trap worth every penny if i get a badger out of the deal.

[highcountry_hunter]

I’d get your trap out on opening day of trapping season if there’s still sign around. In my experience they tend to hibernate very early. I got one on november 3 a couple years ago

[Jonathan_S]

Yep won't get much time during November. I wouldn't set too close by but maybe 100'-200' upwind. Maybe try prebaiting?

[Humptulips]

I've never trapped a badger but everything I read about them says they prime up late. Nov. Dec. badgers are supposed to be of poor quality.

[Norman89]

What a dandy wall hanger a badger would be! But I'll be building a MUCH heavier trap before I try for one iv seen plenty of picture and video on what they can do to a foothold when they get caught and the amount of dirt they can dig up is wild

[JimmyHoffa]

If you did want to sell badger, I think the best money comes from a small group in the art community.  The hair is the best for certain paints (painting stained glass).

[Humptulips]

If you did want to sell badger, I think the best money comes from a small group in the art community.  The hair is the best for certain paints (painting stained glass).

Badger are graded as either fur badgers or hair badgers. The traditional market for hair badgers was for brushes. I think you can still get badger hair shaving brushes. Most of that market is gone to synthetics though.

What a dandy wall hanger a badger would be! But I'll be building a MUCH heavier trap before I try for one iv seen plenty of picture and video on what they can do to a foothold when they get caught and the amount of dirt they can dig up is wild

I have been told they are no worse then a raccoon on a trap. Still I have a feeling a stouter trap then your average raccoon trap would be in order. I was told a guy took one last year in one of my traps with no damage to the trap. Unfortunately no pictures were taken.

[Jonathan_S]

The ones I caught were about like a big boar coon. Anything that could be chewed or bent, was. Good quality trap will be fine 👍

[Norman89]

If you did want to sell badger, I think the best money comes from a small group in the art community.  The hair is the best for certain paints (painting stained glass).

Badger are graded as either fur badgers or hair badgers. The traditional market for hair badgers was for brushes. I think you can still get badger hair shaving brushes. Most of that market is gone to synthetics though.

What a dandy wall hanger a badger would be! But I'll be building a MUCH heavier trap before I try for one iv seen plenty of picture and video on what they can do to a foothold when they get caught and the amount of dirt they can dig up is wild

I have been told they are no worse then a raccoon on a trap. Still I have a feeling a stouter trap then your average raccoon trap would be in order. I was told a guy took one last year in one of my traps with no damage to the trap. Unfortunately no pictures were taken.

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I don't doubt your traps would hold one bruce that cage material is stout! But my 1x2 14gauge wire....no thanks 

[snake]

Im not an expert by any means, but most badger holes I have saw were more oval in shape because of the way they dig. Coyote make more of a round hole.

[Elkslayer]

Good luck Bango! I've been wanting to trap one as well but they're pretty scarce around here and they seem to move a lot.